Staying offsite

[LeahA]

We are staying in a 3 Bedroom condo at WH in 3 weeks for the price of $900

Onsite in POR with my family of 5, least expensive accomodation, $2000

I love staying onsite, I loved our DVC that we since have sold.

I love the savings for our upcoming trip more!!! Save money, larger accomodations!

Bus Transportation or Driving my car, same commute times.

Im excited to try something new, I just can't afford the MAGIC this year!

[kathy884]

Originally Posted by Daisydd77

I have planned to stay on site Disney property but I am now debating on possibly staying offsite. We will have our own vehicle and will not utilize Disney transportation (my hubby will not ride with anyone else) so that is not a benefit for us. Tell me 1) why stay off property vs on property as well as 2) what is your favorite off site place to stay and why. We are a family of 4... One of which is a 2 year old. We will be traveling jan 31 through Feb 4.

11)

1) Value for the dollar (a two bedroom condo for the price of a Disney moderate room) // love the extra space // love to be able to eat some meals in and at some nice chain resturants vs. Disney foodcourt or Disney's expensive table service

2) So many great condos that I love (I've stayed most often at Sheraton Vistana Resort and Cypress Pointe condos as I have been able to find great prices on an owner rental for the week I wanted) I usually rent from owners using tug2.net classified ads section or redweek.com.

The only time I stay onsite is if someone else is paying for me to stay Disney Deluxe. DH has had to attend serveral conventions at the Comtemporay. I love Disney Deluxe, but that is if and only if someone else is paying.

[AJKMOM]

Originally Posted by patriciaofoz

We are staying offsite for our Christmas trip and I was wondering whether you had any tips? Transportation and parking, particularly.

We will have our own car, this is our first trip to DW and therefore have absolutely no idea what to expect

We have a 5-day hopper and are planning on doing MK, HS, AK & Epcot. We got our tickets from AAA.

Thanks in advance!

Best advice is to get there early, because some of the parks close to outside visitors early, and potentially close to all visitors some time during the day.. Make sure you read up about Fast Passes, and don't plan to see everything, because Christmas at Disney World is crazy, wall-to-wall people. There have been several thread about this recently.

[spiceycat]

Originally Posted by patriciaofoz

We are staying offsite for our Christmas trip and I was wondering whether you had any tips? Transportation and parking, particularly.

We will have our own car, this is our first trip to DW and therefore have absolutely no idea what to expect

We have a 5-day hopper and are planning on doing MK, HS, AK & Epcot. We got our tickets from AAA.

Thanks in advance!

where are you staying - name of hotel and address if you have it.
Christmas is a bad time for a first timer - the parks are way crowded. even this week 2nd week in Dec - they are crowded for this time. that say you can have fun.

the MK will probably open at 8am - so if it does be there when it opens.

Now if you can't get up and go that early - then don't plan on a lot of stuff - with the crowds and you being first timers - would only consider 2 things in each park. Now generally this is 2 or 4 things per person. Don't count on that during Christmas week. You will be going great to ride 2 rides and leave.

[mjwheelerali]

We went to Disney for the first time last year. We arrived on Dec. 30 and stayed until Jan. 6. Everyone warned us that the crowds would be massive...and they were....but it wasn't unbearable and we felt like we got to see and do more than we thought we would. I really followed the crowd calendar recommendations when I planned out our week...I think that REALLY helped...

We stayed at POR and are considering going back again in March...surfed over here to see if we can still get the Disney magic we LOVED by staying off-site!! Flights are more expensive than last year, but staying off-site would compensate...we think?? We did LOVE the deluxe dining, but even those rates seem to have really jumped! Love the idea of a breakfast included hotel that a PP mentioned...can anyone book a timeshare condo/town or do you have to have a connection?

[7165red]

We love renting a villa. so much room and pvt pool. Now I wouldn't like staying in one room for more than one day. I enjoy visiting the Disney hotels.

[aubriee]

Originally Posted by mjwheelerali

...can anyone book a timeshare condo/town or do you have to have a connection?

We stayed offsite for the first time this past Oct/Nov. We sortof fell into it though. I already had a room booked at CBR using the AP discount. A few weeks before we left, a coworker asked me when I was going to WDW again and when I told her two weeks, said oh shucks, she had some timeshare weeks she was going to lose if they weren't used by the end of Dec. (She had already banked all she could.) Anyway, she offered me a week in a one bedroom villa at Westgate Town Center for just $400.00 (plus the $50.00 transfer fee). $64.00/night was too good an offer to pass up. The AP discount I had didn't even come close to that, so I canceled the CBR ressie and took her up on it.

We loved staying offsite so much (cheaper, more relaxed, and had a ton of room in the villa, plus a fully equipped kitchen and a jacuzzi tub), that I came straight back and started looking into more offsite options. For my upcoming May trip I got quotes for a one bedroom Deluxe villa at Wyndham Bonnet Creek from Vacation Strategies, Vacation Upgrades, Farrell's Vacations, and a seller on VRBO. Weeks for Bonnet Creek are also being sold on ebay by reputable sellers/owners. I went with Vacation Strategies and got a one bedroom for just $895.00 for ten nights/eleven days ($89.50/night) for mid May. For regular season (midMay), my AP discount couldn't beat that for a value resort, much less a fully equipped one bedroom villa. Plus Bonnet Creek is right there physically on property so will be closer than some of the 'onsite resorts'.

[shalom]

Originally Posted by spiceycat

views - Disney has some really great views - OKW, AKL, and my favorite BLT.

There are some good views offsite as well. Our unit at the Fountains had a terrific view with a lake below, and then SeaWorld in the distance.

I liked our view from Orlando Sunshine as well, although it was just the garden area by the pool. Nice view, though, and, with the padded lounge chairs and big screened porch, really comfy place to relax.

I do not expect much of our next stay at the Sunshine, though -- we're in the other building, which faces the pool but also a bunch of really big power lines. Still not as hot and nasty a view as some at the Beach Club, however -- WDW has some of the best views, but also some of the worst.

Originally Posted by mjwheelerali

can anyone book a timeshare condo/town or do you have to have a connection?

Anyone can rent points or weeks from individuals, and get very good deals that way. And a lot of places you can rent from the developers -- Wyndham, Blue Green, etc. -- or from the guys who run the place, like Floridays. All of those have two bedroom condos available for less than most rooms onsite cost. I'd pick a few places that sound good and look into how to find the best deal for that particular resort.

For instance, I believe the best deals at Bonnet Creek are the e-bay rentals; I'd probably go with Vacation Strategy myself, because using a broker is less risky. Less risky first because they've got a known reputation -- excellent, in the case of VC -- and second because they often have better protection if things go soft. Most rentals from individuals, OTOH, you pay your money upfront, and that's it; if you can't get there, tough. If you can't make your vacation with a broker, sometimes they will put your payment into an account so you can use it later or otherwise work with you. Using a broker is not the same as working with a hotel, but it's usually closer to that than renting from individuals can be.

Renting direct from Wyndham or Bluegreen -- generally the more expensive option, but also usually cheaper than onsite (the exceptions being free dining or some other deal) is pretty much like renting a hotel room, except you will not get daily maid service. Which is the big difference between being in a hotel and renting a timeshare in general, I suppose, but people who rent direct get surprised by that difference the most.

[jenjordan]

We went with another family about 3 years ago and stayed at a 3BR townhouse in Windsor Hills during the low season and absolutely loved it so much that we are going back again in 2013.

Windsor Hills is very close to Disney (only 5 minutes to get on property) and the money we saved plus the extra room to spread out makes it completely worth it in my opinion. No crowded resort pool, washer/dryer, full kitchen, and separate bedrooms... absolute heaven...

We had breakfast in the condo every morning, ate off-site or at the condo for a few dinners and lunches depending on when we took breaks, and I don't think that I would ever stay onsite again unless I was going with just my husband. The thought of packing us all in a hotel room for 8 days just makes me anxious.

[mslukie]

Just be prepared onsite, you generally have a very long walk to your room after a long day.. Most off site motels you can pull up to your room

[Ametista]

We have only stayed onsite once. I have stayed offsite on 7 Disney/Orlando trips. There is just no comparison at all. If you want a great view eat dinner at Chef Mickey's one night and request a seat near the window overlooking MK. We ate there and watched the fireworks at MK and met Mickey all for about $50, can't beat that.

There are lots of very nice resorts with incredible amenities for far less than staying onsite. To me the biggest perks are separate rooms for the kids ( I have a boy and a girl) and being able to shop at Whole Foods and eat healthy the whole trip. Nothing kills a kid's temperament more than unhealthy and unfamiliar food with too much sugar.

[softballmom3]

Originally Posted by Daisydd77

I have planned to stay on site Disney property but I am now debating on possibly staying offsite. We will have our own vehicle and will not utilize Disney transportation (my hubby will not ride with anyone else) so that is not a benefit for us. Tell me 1) why stay off property vs on property as well as 2) what is your favorite off site place to stay and why. We are a family of 4... One of which is a 2 year old. We will be traveling jan 31 through Feb 4.

11)

We are a family that has done both and for us there are pros and cons to both.

pros:
*immersed in the "magic"- which we love
*EMH
* Wonderful Theming
* and for us transportation---I thought it was much easier to utilize--I know you say you will not be using though.
Parking is Free.


As a family of 4 with your age groups, you may like the values- they have over the top theming. Mine loved Pop when they were younger.

Also...you may get a really good discount for that time frame (stay/play/dine?)

Cons:
Smaller rooms---less place to stretch out
You are there capitve audience and food is more expensive on property


Offsite we have stayed at Windsor Hills and really enjoyed it. The extra room is nice and the rates are usually good. The washer/dryer was a huge plus.

It really all depends on what you want.

Personally, if we stayed offsite again, we would probably try Bonnet Creek.